Read the full article by Garret Ellison (MLIVE)
“Cathy Wusterbarth had her blood drawn last month to test for toxic chemicals. Now she wants her fellow community members to follow suit.
This past fall, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) began blood serum testing and health surveys in Oscoda as part of an effort assess the severity of exposure to PFAS chemicals in the population around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
The state began recruiting study participants in September for the Oscoda Area Exposure Assessment (OAEA), a biomonitoring surveillance program open to anyone 12 and older who live in either Oscoda or AuSable townships.
‘It’s my hope that as many people who are eligible as possible will participate in this program,’ said Wusterbarth, a co-leader in the Need Our Water (NOW) advocacy group.
‘I want people to have this information as soon as possible,’ Wusterbarth said. ‘PFAS does get cleared from the body at some point. Depending on what type it is, the time varies, but the sooner you find out the levels you have, the better.'”…